Calling all OCCC students, faculty and staff! You’re invited to join a new online book club hosted by Chair of History/Geography Leslie Jones and Chair of Sociology LiErin Probasco, featuring “By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land” by Cherokee writer and activist Rebecca Nagle.

The book club will run from Oct. 6 to Nov. 14, a timeframe chosen to honor Native American Heritage Month.

“November is Native American History Month, and we wanted to do something to recognize that,” Jones explained.

Nagle’s book examines landmark court cases – such as McGirt v. Oklahoma – while exploring Native American history, legal battles and enduring struggles for justice.

“It’s a lot,” Jones admitted. “But she does a fantastic job walking you through the court cases and the story itself.”

Personal Connections to the Book

For both Jones and Probasco, this book club is more than an academic exercise. It reflects their personal ties to Native American communities.

Jones noted that her great-grandfather appeared on the Dawes Roll and described how her family gradually assimilated over generations.

“The language and the culture began to disappear with my grandma’s generation,” she recalled.

Jones also reflected on her childhood memories of visiting Indian clinics.

“The only access to healthcare we could afford was the Indian clinic,” she said. “I thought it was fun! There were many places you could run, and you were around people who kind of looked like you.”

Probasco, while not Muscogee herself, is closely connected through her family.

“I’m not Muscogee, but my children are,” she pointed out. “My family and the people I love are.”

Probasco’s mother-in-law has spent more than 15 years leading a Muscogee language camp, where Probasco first met Nagle through mutual friends. After listening to the audiobook of “By the Fire We Carry,” Probasco knew the book would be a perfect fit for OCCC.

“I thought it was really cool how she brought personal stories into history,” she said. “I thought she would be a great speaker to bring to campus.”

What to Expect

The discussion-based book club will cover three chapters per week, paired with enriching activities such as:

• • A podcast with the author
  • Muscogee language videos featuring Rosemary McCombs Maxey, the first Native American woman ordained as a member of the clergy by the United Church of Christ

“There is a lot in the book club to give it a multi-faceted version of the learning,” Jones said. “I think that’s going to be a lot of fun!”

Students will also benefit from closer interaction with faculty – and participants are eligible for a tuition waiver.

But the perks don’t stop there. Anyone who completes the book club can join Nagle for a private lunch (from 11 a.m. to noon), where the author will also be available to sign copies of her book.

“Whenever I was in college, it would have been so cool to get to have lunch with the author!” Jones proclaimed.

A Day of Celebration

Nov. 10 will be filled with events centered on Native American storytelling and culture, including screenings of three episodes of the popular Oklahoma-based television series “Reservation Dogs” in the Bruce Owen Theater. Each episode will be followed by expert-led discussions, as outlined below.

• • 10 a.m. – “NDN Clinic” (Season 1, Episode 2) + Q&A with Dr. Cassandra Querdibitty, a descendant of the Muscogee Nation who serves as an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
  • 11:15 a.m. – “Deer Lady” (Season 3, Episode 3) + Q&A with OCCC Professor of English Pamela Stout, an expert on Native American mythology
  • 2:15 p.m. – “Fckin’ Rez Dogs” (Season 1, Episode 1) + Q&A with Steven Mathis, cinematographer for “Reservation Dogs”

From 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., Nagle will deliver a keynote address, entitled “Fighting Indigenous Erasure in the Media,” followed by a Q&A session.

Additional activities, set to take place in the general dining area, will include:

• • Performances by the OCCC Pow Wow Club and Native American dancers
  • A Muscogee language presentation
  • Jewelry making with a beadwork artist

More Opportunities to Learn

The celebration is set to continue on Nov. 15, when OCCC will rent the First Americans Museum (located in the Horizons District of Oklahoma City) and invite students to visit the museum, totally free of charge.

Jones emphasized the importance of the entire experience while praising the book at its center.

“Whenever you read a book and it’s really complicated but the author writes it in such a way that you just understand—it was an easy read!” she declared.

Whether Native or non-Native, all are welcome to join the club, gain new perspectives and honor Indigenous history.

“It’s a really well-told story about a part of history that is not well known,” Probasco said.

Looking ahead, Jones hopes to see OCCC host similar events on down the road.

“If it goes well and it seems fun, I want to bring more people to campus, share a meal and show our students that education is really cool and knowledge is power,” she said before concluding with: “That’s what it’s all about.”